Bob Teklinski, a Detroit native who now lives outside of St. Louis, has attended the hydroplane races since 1954 with no plans of stopping.

“I wasn’t even 7 years old yet and I was fascinated by the boats,” he said Saturday afternoon in the pit area. “They’re so beautiful on the water.”

Teklinski, 64, is one of tens of thousands of people expected to attend the races on the Detroit River near Belle Isle.

The three-day APBA Detroit Gold Cup presented by the Detroit Yacht Club started Friday at noon and continues through Sunday, when the winning driver earns one of the oldest active trophies in all of motorsports, a Detroit staple since 1915.

This year’s races are expected to be some of the most-highly attended in recent years, officials say. Detroit River Regatta Association Event Director Mark Weber, estimated 20,000 people came down to watch the races Friday.

“It’s been going extremely well,” he told MLive.com Saturday. “Yesterday was probably one of our biggest free Fridays and, right now, this place is rocking.

“It’s a beautiful day in the city of Detroit.”

And while the races – particularly the 12 Unlimited Hydroplanes, which can travel over 200 miles per hour on water – are the main attraction, there are other entertainment options, including music, horse riding for kids, video game trailers and air shows.

“It was always just a big family event,” said Bob Birach, a 60-year-old Detroit native who now lives in Farmington Hills, adding he used to watch the races as a boy with his father and grandfather. “I’ve just been coming down ever since.”

The final day of racing begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The 103rd APBA Gold Cup is scheduled to begin at 4:20 p.m.